Introduction

Good morning/evening church! Before we get going today, I have a question for you… Have you ever wondered what really matters to God? Have you ever stopped to consider what kinds of things get God, the Creator of the cosmos, really excited? If we’re honest, it might not be something we think about too often, and yet, we can assume that whatever really matters to God is what motivates him. And in our passage today we’ve got a front row seat to see what things matter to the very heart of God. We get to see that mercy is close to the heart of God. We bear witness as Jesus challenges the religious leaders' emphasis on rituals and rules; missing what really matters in the kingdom. And what really matters to God, as evidenced through Christ, is people.

And what really matters to God, as evidenced through Christ, is people.

Main Teaching

What exactly is mercy? You may remember calling for mercy when an older sibling had you pinned down as a kid. Or you may be familiar with the “mercy-rule” in sports, when one team is beating another so badly that the game ends prematurely. These are examples of mercy that we may have seen and they point to the greater definition which states; compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. We are all, at some point, in need of mercy… And mercy is exactly what God gave to all of us when He gave His only Son to live and die on our behalf.

Recognizing Our Own Need for Mercy

We are a sinful people, in need of mercy, kindness, and patience. If you’ve ever raised children, you know this to be true; that we are born with a sin nature that is prone to destruction. In fact, Romans 3:23 says specifically, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” There isn’t anyone who lives exempt from this reality. But here’s the amazing part, as Romans 3:24 says, “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” There is redemption for sin, God has mercy on His creation.

In our passage today we see three different stories with one common theme throughout each; the mercy and compassion of God as evidenced through the life of Christ in the lives of real people. People just like you and I. People who need compassion, care, and even correction.

Read Matthew 9:9-13

In this section, Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium